"Challenge Park Xtreme" refs in Chicago on STRIKE

[Tyger]

I saw this over on Automags.org (click here to see the actual link / story). But, the basics :

The refs are on strike to protest Forest Brown being fired from his own park (among other things). As posted on the "AO" board by one of the refs on strike:

Originally posted by joez on May 4, 12:00 AM
today, CPX and BE were brought to their knees.

as the sun arose, there were already refs outside the gates, ready to sit all day. i was there with them. we all lost our jobs today, but this is a blow from which BE will never recover.

BE has been giving the employees of CPX (not just ref's) hell for a while now. we were simply attempting to get back what BE has taken away, and it was not just for us. BE has recently raised admission prices, along with prices of barrel socks, which will become manditory at the end of the summer. they have taken away the free rental for referee's (Great for fresh refs just getting into the sport), made numerous promisses to which they cannot fofill, and continuously screw over both their employees and customers. and them letting forest go, telling him that"he was no longer an asset", that lit the fuse under us. we all knew who forest was, he was almost like a father to some of the emplyee's, and also the one trying to better the referee's position.

litereally hundreds of open players were turned away today, recieving "gold passes" for coming out to the park. night games were canceled, most private games were sent home, and yet, a lot of players actually suported us. CPX and BE stood to loose $60,000 this saturday, and stand to loose almost as much tommarow. they did not want to help us out. we just wanted the stuff back that they took away, and they couldnt do it.

yes, it was just a reffing job, and yes, they will just try to restaff the park, and yes, it will remain open, but with the massive understaffing, and all of the reschedualling of private groups, this is a blow that they will never recover.

management did not know what to do today, they wouldnt even come out to tell us that we were fired. every guide, most refs, and even trainee's are now gone.they have 6 refs. 6. just think about this next time you want to play. the cororate monster is dying.

Arguments on AO are that it's Brass Eagle, and this is a minor bump in the road for them, but the jury is still out on this one. So far the protest is "Peaceful", but heavens only knows what CPX will do if they can't get refs down the road.

reporting the "stateside" news :

-Tyger
(Who was at a diffrent game in the Chi-town area this weekend, so I dind't get to see the 'fun' at the front gates of CPX...)

 

[Baca Loco]

Even more interesting

Super 7 hasn't yet announced a Chi-town venue (only one month away) but given the level of BE and JT sponsorship of Supe 7 one might have thought Challenge Park a likely place for the event. If so, this might throw a monkey wrench into those plans?
How 'bout an expose--Labor pains for Big PB?

 

[TJ Lambini]

Maybe BE got confused when someone told em concept fields were tha way of tha future and they should get rid of all tha forests?